Lesotho, the landlocked kingdom
THE Kingdom of Lesotho is a small landlocked country surrounded by South Africa. It is known as the ‘Mountain Kingdom’, the whole country being over 1,000m in altitude.
THE Kingdom of Lesotho is a small landlocked country surrounded by South Africa. It is known as the ‘Mountain Kingdom’, the whole country being over 1,000m in altitude.
Due to her high altitude, one can only reach many of the villages on horseback, by foot or light aircraft. The country is divided into 10 districts, each named after the principal town.
Lesotho (formerly Basutoland) was constituted a native state under British protection by a treaty signed with the native chief Moshoeshoe in 1843. It was annexed to Cape Colony in 1871, but in 1884 it was restored to direct control by the Crown. The colony of Basutoland became the independent nation of Lesotho on October, 4, 1966, with King Moshoeshoe II as sovereign and chief Jonathan as prime minister.
Relations between the king and the country’s first prime minister soon became strained, and in 1970, Chief Jonathan annulled the country’s second elections and suspended the constitution.
He exiled the king (later allowing him to return, but not to become involved in politics) and repressed opposition; but he was overthrown in a military coup in 1986, led by Major-General Justin Lekhanya.
Lekhanya then reinstated the king, who was to govern on the advice of a military council; but in 1990 Lekhanya had half the military council arrested and nine ministers dismissed.
The king was sent into exile and deposed in favour of his son, Letsie III, who was sworn in as monarch in November 1990.
In 1991, Elias Phitsoane Ramaema took over power.
Over the decades thousands of workers have been forced by the lack of job opportunities to find work at South African mines. South Africa has on several occasions intervened in Lesotho’s politics, including in 1998 when it sent its troops to help quell unrest.
The former British protectorate has had a turbulent period of independence with several parties, army factions and the royal family competing for power in coups and mutinies. The position of king has been reduced to a symbolic and unifying role.
Today, Lesotho faces one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. A drive to encourage people to take HIV tests was spurred on by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, who was tested in public in 2004.
Poverty is widespread, with the UN describing 40% of the 2,022, 331 population as “ultra-poorâ€.
Lesotho’s capital is Maseru and her official languages are Sesotho and English. Other languages are Zulu and Xhosa.
Compiled by
Elizabeth Agiro
Due to her high altitude, one can only reach many of the villages on horseback, by foot or light aircraft. The country is divided into 10 districts, each named after the principal town.
Lesotho (formerly Basutoland) was constituted a native state under British protection by a treaty signed with the native chief Moshoeshoe in 1843. It was annexed to Cape Colony in 1871, but in 1884 it was restored to direct control by the Crown. The colony of Basutoland became the independent nation of Lesotho on October, 4, 1966, with King Moshoeshoe II as sovereign and chief Jonathan as prime minister.
Relations between the king and the country’s first prime minister soon became strained, and in 1970, Chief Jonathan annulled the country’s second elections and suspended the constitution.
He exiled the king (later allowing him to return, but not to become involved in politics) and repressed opposition; but he was overthrown in a military coup in 1986, led by Major-General Justin Lekhanya.
Lekhanya then reinstated the king, who was to govern on the advice of a military council; but in 1990 Lekhanya had half the military council arrested and nine ministers dismissed.
The king was sent into exile and deposed in favour of his son, Letsie III, who was sworn in as monarch in November 1990.
In 1991, Elias Phitsoane Ramaema took over power.
Over the decades thousands of workers have been forced by the lack of job opportunities to find work at South African mines. South Africa has on several occasions intervened in Lesotho’s politics, including in 1998 when it sent its troops to help quell unrest.
The former British protectorate has had a turbulent period of independence with several parties, army factions and the royal family competing for power in coups and mutinies. The position of king has been reduced to a symbolic and unifying role.
Today, Lesotho faces one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. A drive to encourage people to take HIV tests was spurred on by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, who was tested in public in 2004.
Poverty is widespread, with the UN describing 40% of the 2,022, 331 population as “ultra-poorâ€.
Lesotho’s capital is Maseru and her official languages are Sesotho and English. Other languages are Zulu and Xhosa.
Compiled by
Elizabeth Agiro